THEY are responsible for many of the incredible special effects that have given Southampton Mayflower Theatre's pantomimes the 'wow' factor over the years.

Now Dorset-based identical twins Paul and Gary Hardy-Brown are celebrating after their company The Twins FX was presented with Best special effects award for the flying upside down moped at the Great British Pantomime Awards.

Paul was at the glittering ceremony in London where he was presented with the award by Christopher Biggins who also won a lifetime achievement award for his roles in panto over the years.

The flying moped was just one of the amazing effects that were in the production of Cinderella, the first pantomime to make a return to the West End stage at the London at the Palladium. It’s been over 25 years since a pantomime was running in the West End. “We were thrilled to have our effects on the West End stage” said Paul.

The Twins, who live at Wareham, have put their unique stamp on many shows at the Mayflower, including the annual pantomime, from a flying motorbike, Magic carpet and flying fire breathing dragon.

Last year in Robin Hood they saw a full-size T-Rex stomping and roaring across the stage.

“Coming into work is never boring or a chore because we genuinely love what we do,” says Gary who is the Twins FX Managing Director. They have a core team of eight staff but at their busiest there are as many as 30 model makers, painters, engineers and others working in their workshop, like a crack team of seasonal elves!

Gary added: “Everyone is always amazed when they find out that on their doorstep in Wareham is where some of the best theatre magic is made. People have no idea what goes on around them. One minute we are rubbing shoulders with the likes of Julian Clary, David Hasselhoff and Marti Pellow, the next we are back in Wareham feeding the ducks with the children.”

Brother Paul said: “You’d be amazed at the number of small local business over Dorset and Hampshire that get involved in the work that we do. Most of it is completely outside what they would normally do on a day to day basis. Some of our illusions are an engineering marvel. We are a one stop shop and we do everything ourselves: designing, creating/building and delivering the wow factor”.

Starting out as holiday season Bluecoats, delivering captivating magic and illusion shows as part of Pontins’ entertainment program, the twins worked this up into a slick double act which then proceeded to tour around the world for 15 years, becoming bigger and more ambitious as the years went by. In 2004, The Twins were commissioned to create Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother to fly over an audience, which steered them towards special effects and away from performing.

Since then they have established themselves as the market leaders in large-scale theatrical effects, working on arena shows such as Jeff Wayne’s ‘War of the Worlds’, Dr Who Live and the UK tour of Barnum and ‘Hamlet’ with Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role. The Guardian said of The Twins FX’s contribution to the ‘Hamlet’ production - “the effects are striking”. Timeout said "visually and atmospherically stunning productions”.

2016 also saw The Twins FX adding effects into London's West End musical ‘Thriller LIVE’ and “Impossible" - the world's greatest illusionists live on stage in a magic spectacular. They have also created stunning effects for all three Butlins resorts, ITV’s ‘Keep it in the family’, BBC’s Michael McIntyre’s ‘Big Show,’ ITV’s ‘The Next Great Magician’ and ITV’s hit drama ‘HIM”. The Twins FX have also supplied effects to one of this year’s Hollywood Blockbuster movies, 'Now You See Me 2’, and have even supplied effects to the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold’s latest music video.

The Twins FX continues to grow its business so if you’re in the market for a Flying Coach and Horses or a giant full size T-Rex look no further!